NEW DELHI— Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by video call on Friday with Captain Smit Machchhar, the Flydubai pilot who was seriously injured after an attack by his co-pilot during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Machchhar, who is recovering in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, recounted the harrowing moments of the incident to Modi, describing how he fought to stay conscious and regain control of the situation despite suffering serious injuries. He told the prime minister that he believed he could have died had he not managed to get back up.
Modi praised Machchhar for his courage, presence of mind and quick decision-making under extreme pressure. The prime minister said the pilot's actions had helped avert a potentially catastrophic aviation disaster and wished him a speedy recovery.
The incident occurred aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, Machchhar was attacked and seriously wounded in the cockpit, after which the aircraft entered a steep descent. Despite his injuries, he managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to intervene and restrain the attacker.
The Boeing 737 was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely. Machchhar was initially treated in Tabuk before being transferred for further medical care in the UAE. Reports said the aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, while other accounts have described the total number of people aboard differently.
The incident has drawn international attention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praising Machchhar for his actions, saying his resistance and decision to open the cockpit door helped prevent a potentially devastating mid-air disaster.
Authorities in the region are investigating the circumstances surrounding the cockpit attack, including the motive and whether there was any wider security threat.
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